Cardiff Things to Do Tips by sue_stone

Cardiff Castle is located in the heart of the city, next to Bute Park and close to the main shopping drag. It is enclosed by a tall wall, making entry into the grounds an exciting experience.

Buy your ticket at the street front shop/ticket office, deciding if you just want access to the grounds (£3.50 - Aug 06) or access to all areas, as part of a tour (£6.95 - Aug 06). Then you enter through the castle gate and you are in the large, grassy inner courtyard.

This lovely courtyard area is quite unique, with its green lawns, shady chairs and tables for picnics, and best of all, its resident peacocks!! The birds just wander about, posing for the occasional photo and calling out to their friends across the yard. There were some cute baby peacocks too.

The castle itself is made up of several sections - I particularly liked the cute Norman Keep, which sits on a little hill, and the interesting clock tower. Under the main house of the castle is a tea room which is housed in the oldest part of a castle. We didn't eat here, but it is well worth a look. There are also a couple of museums in the grounds (which you can visit without having the full priced ticket).

Oh, and they don't take the grounds tickets from you, so you can always wander in later the same day if you want a second look....not sure if you are actually supposed to, but we did ; )

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Phone: 029 2087 8100
Address: Castle Street, Cardiff CF10 3RB
Directions: Next to the Civic Centre and Shopping Arcades
Website: http://www.cardiffcastle.com/
Other Contact: cardiffcastle@cardiff.gov.uk

The Cardiff Bay area used to be a neglected slum, covered with smelly mudflats. Then, a tidal barrage was built, taking advantage of some of the highest tidal ranges in the world (up to 14 12 metres), and the mudflats were turned into a freshwater lake.

Over the last few years, the bay area has been redeveloped into a stunning commercial area, with a lovely water side development filled with restaurants, cafes and shops. It is a really nice place to take a walk or enjoy a leisurely meal.

Each Sunday, during the warmer months, there are street entertainers and shows around the bay. We visited on the August Bank Holiday weekend, and there was a small festival.

From the bay wharfs you can take a boat ride around the harbour and down the coast a bit, or just out to have a close up look at the tidal barrage.

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Address: Cardiff Bay, Butetown, Cardiff, CF10
Directions: Walk, drive or catch a bus from Cardiff Centre
Website: http://www.cardiffbay.co.uk

Cardiff Bay is home to the Welsh National Assembly, and in a prime position on the bay is the stunning new assembly building, The Senedd. Opened on the 1st of March 2006, this landmark building has been constructed based on 'green' principals, and its renewable energy systems will hopefully mean that running costs are reduced by up to half of what they would be in a similar sized building.

The Senedd has been constructed using slate, glass, timber & steel, and has a huge wooden 'chimney' in the middle which is used to ventilate the inner space.

You can have a look over the circular Debating Chamber from the public gallery and see the big wigs in action, or maybe just relax for a while in the café and enjoy the impressive architecture around you.

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Phone: 029 2089 8477
Address: Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA
Website: http://www.wales.gov.uk/assemblybuilding/index.htm

One of the stunning buildings in the Cardiff Bay development is the Wales Millennium Centre. The centre is home to several of Wales' major cultural organisations, including the Welsh National Opera, and houses concerts, opera and theatre performances.

Building commenced in 2001 and was finished in 2003. Stone was used from Northern Wales for the walls, and sheets of glass were fused together and constructed like glass veins between the stone.

The building really is impressive, with its massive shell-like roof and its slate, glass and steel construction. The inside of the building is also beautifully designed, with wood panelled features and curved walls. There are a couple of cafes and bars, and clean (and free) toilets. You can take a browse in the gift shop as well.

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Phone: 0870 040 2000
Address: Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL
Website: http://www.wmc.org.uk/

Located amid the shopping malls in the centre of Cardiff is St John's Church. A church has stood on this site since at least 1180, with the current one dating back to the 15th Century. After the castle, it is Cardiff's second oldest building.

The church has a tall tower which the locals describe as a 'gem of medieval architecture'. It contains 10 bells which are rung on Sundays and on special occasions. The inside is a peaceful retreat from the hectic shoppers, with its elegant arched interior. When we visited we were the only ones in there!

The best part of a visit here though is hidden in the church's Vestry. From Wednesday to Saturday each week it is home to a delightful tea room, run by volunteers. Here you can relax and enjoy tasty looking home-made cakes and sandwiches, along with some light meals and hot and cold drinks.

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Address: St John Street, Cardiff
Website: http://www.cardiffcentralparish.org/

Located just northwest of the city centre is the green oasis of Bute Park. This vast area of landscaped flower gardens, lawns and recreation grounds was once a part of the grounds of Cardiff Castle.

The park straddles the River Taff, with footbridges crossing over it. It was landscaped in the 1870s and donated to the city in 1947. It is a lovely place to take a stroll or relax for a while.

Close to one of the main park entrances, just off Castle Road, there is a stone circle, which was erected in 1899. It's not Stone Henge, but worth a look all the same.

There is a wall that runs along the Castle Road side of the park which has sculptured animals sitting on top of it. This 'Animal Wall' became quite famous in the 1930's apparently, when a newspaper cartoon strip brought the animals to life.

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Directions: You can enter from Castle Road, just past the castle, before you cross the River Taff.
Website: http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=&id=422&Positioning_Article_ID=&Language=&d1=0

The Millennium Stadium is located in Cardiff's city centre, just across the road from the castle. This huge structure was opened in 1999, and has been described as looking like a 'lost space ship'.

The stadium has the first retractable roof in the UK, making it a multi-purpose venue that can be used all year round. The stadium turf is ingeniously grown on hundreds of palettes, which can be removed for big concerts.

It is currently home to such prestigious events as the FA Cup final and the British Speedway Grand Prix, and major music acts also perform here. You can take a tour of the stadium for a close up look from the players side of things - the change rooms and players tunnel for example, and also take a seat in the Royal Box to see how the other half watch their sport.

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Phone: 0870 013 8600
Address: Westgate Street, Cardiff
Directions: Cardiff City Centre by the River Taff
Website: http://www.millenniumstadium.com
Other Contact: info@cardiff-stadium.co.uk